Leather burnishing and polishing device



March 13, 1956 D. CHOMA 2,737,679

LEATHER BURNISHING AND POLISHING DEVICE Filed Oct. 11, 1952 United States Patent LEATHER BURNISHING AND POLISHING DEVICE Daniel Choma, East St. Louis, Ill. Application October 11, 1952, Serial No. 314,356 3 Claims. (Cl. 15-222) The present invention relates to a device for burnishing leather goods, and is particularly though not exclusively adapted for use in shining shoes, boots, slippers and the like by hand.

More particularly, the invention is directed to the provision of a device of this nature which is manually operable; which, though light in weight, is strong and durable; which is flexible enough and so formed as to be brought into burnishing engagement with any and all external surfaces of a shoe or the like; which, during the initial use thereof, automatically acquires a configuration best suited for its subsequent use, and which is small enough and compact enough to be carried around in travelling.

The primary object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a novel device embodying structure adapted to attain the advantages set forth in the preceding paragraph.

The instant device is of metallic construction, and broadly, comprises a lightweight wire mesh tubular member, and a handgrip element rigidly secured to each end portion of said tubular member, so that it can be used much as an ordinary shoe polishing cloth is used. Preferably, the diameter of the tubular member gradually decreases progressively in both directions from the central portion thereof, so that in the regions of the handgrips the strands converge to form wire rope terminals about each of which one of said handgrips is permanently crimped, as will appear.

A more comprehensive understanding of the novel construction and features of the invention may be had from the detailed description thereof to follow with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a device constructed in accordance with the concepts of the present invention, said device being portrayed as it appears prior to use;

Figure 2 is an illustration of the Figure 1 device substantially as it appears following the initial use thereof in substantially actual size for ordinary usage;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a central portion of the device; and

' Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

The device comprising the present invention is designated in its entirety by the numeral 6. It includes a light wire mesh tubular member 8 and a pair of handgrip elements 10. The wire is preferably polished or plated, somewhat tempered steel wire.

As clearly portrayed in Figures 1 and 2, the diameter of the tubular member 8 progressively decreases from the central portion 12 to the end portions 14 thereof, where the strands converge to form wire rope terminals 16. The handgrips 10, originally in the form of sleeves having an internal diameter which exceeds the external diameter of the terminals 16, are disposed about the latter and crimped thereon as at 18, whereby they are permanently aflixed, as is understood. Owing to the character of the mesh, the preferred form of which is multiple helically wound and interlaced strands, the device possesses flexibility and elasticity.

In use.-Assuming that it is desired to burnish, for

taken approximately 2,737,679 Patented Mar. 13, 1956 example, a shoe of unfinished leather, the handgrips 10 are grasped and the tubular member 8 is brought into contact with the leather and manually reciprocated. Because of the inherent flexibility of the meshed wire, and further because of the numerous diameter variations thereof, the tubular member 8 may be maneuvered into every Effective burnishing position required, as should be maniest.

The fine reticulated wire tubing provides an excellent polishing medium. This is particularly true because of the angular or helical arrangement of the strands, which can move over the leather more readily than would transverse elements, and yet which do provide multiple burnishing elements that act upon the material to clean and polish it. The crimpings 18 render each grip 10 secure against slippage from between the thumb and index finger of the user. Fabricated as exhibited in Figure l, the device during its initial use automatically fashions itself into substantially the configuration thereof demonstrated in igure 2.

Assuming that it is desired to shine a shoe, the device is also manipulated in the manner described, shoe polish having first been applied to the leather, as is understood. Obviously less pressure may be applied during a shining operation.

It is also noted that the device may be employed to great advantage for the purpose of softening selected areas of a shoe if desired.

From the foregoing, it should be apparent that the invention provides an ingenious device which requires little skill on the part of the user in the attainment of its objectives; which is light in weight; and which may be cleansed after use and carried about the person and so on, if desired.

Whereas the preferred embodiment has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention contemplates any structural modifications thereof which may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for burnishing leather goods comprising a flexible tubular member of light wire mesh material, and a handgrip permanently attached to each end thereof for manipulating said member, the wire mesh comprising interwoven strands angularly arranged along the tubular axis at an acute angle with respect to said axis.

2. In a device of the character and for the purposes described, the combination of a flexible tubular burnishing member formed of reticulated strands of fine wire, the diameter of said member gradually decreasing progressively in both directions from its central to its end portions where said strands converge to form wire rope terminals; and a handgrip element disposed about and permanently secured to each of said terminals.

3. As a new article of manufacture, an all metallic shoe shining device consisting of a length of flexible tubing formed from a plurality of interwoven fine wire strands, and a handgrip element permanently attached to each end of said tubing; said tubing including a central section of a certain diameter merging laterally in both directions along the axis of said tubing into sections of a gradually diminishing diameter whereby to provide terminals having wire rope characteristics for the attachment thereto of the handgrip elements aforesaid, said wire strands being helically arranged about said axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

